Talk Spot: A conversation starter

5/15/2018

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What do cars, playgrounds, kitchens, park benches and restaurants have in common? They're all places where you can make a Talk Spot!

As part of Speech and Hearing Month, VCH, along with Speech and Hearing BC, invite you to put down your digital devices and discover the benefits of face-to-face communication with someone you love. This could be in the car, at the dinner table, in the community centre, at the mall, in the park: anywhere that facilitates discussion unhindered by the distraction of a screen.

Kids under 5

While parents may be aware of the risks associated with excessive screen time for kids, 85% of Canadian children under 5 spend more time on devices than the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends. For young children, excessive interaction with phones or tablets has been linked to significant language delays and even lifelong learning difficulties. With face-to-face conversations being up to 6 times more effective at boosting a child's cognitive development than reading a book, it's hard to overstate how beneficial speaking to children daily can be.

You may spot a Talk Spot

Talk Spot seeks to combat this by encouraging face-to-face interactions. Talk Spot booths, staffed by licensed speech language pathologists and audiologists, are popping up in shopping centres throughout the month. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has proclaimed May 21 as Talk Spot Day – a day the campaign hopes families will use to foster communication among their loved ones.

Learn more

Visit speechandhearingbc.ca for more information about how to create a Talk Spot anywhere. Or, call the Speech and Hearing BC offices at (604) 420-2222 to speak with a certified speech-language pathologist or audiologist about your child's language development.

#TalkSpot

And of course, feel free to share your own Talk Spot stories across social media by using #TalkSpot! We'd love to be part of your conversation.